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Modern Masters Artist Profile: Lucio Fontana

May 9, 2014 by Holly Westwood

Fascinated by science and technology, Lucio Fontana refused to think of science and art as two distinct entities. First known for his sculptures, it wasn’t until 1949, at the age of 48, that Fontana explored the style of 'spatial concepts' that he is most well-known for today. From that time on, Fontana began using “concetto spaziale” (spatial concepts) accompanied by a secondary, or more referential word or term. These 2-D pieces were characterized by holes, slashes, or cuts through the canvas surface.

“At a time when people were talking about ‘planes’—the surface plane, the depth plane, etc.—making a hole was a radical gesture which broke the space of the canvas as if to say: after this we are free to do what we like.” Fontana’s statement reflects his desire to extend beyond the boundaries of the canvas and into the viewer’s space. Fontana used a variety of forms and appearances in his Spatial Concepts. Some are vivid colors, some neutral, different types of cuts and holes, and ragged or smooth edges to the canvas. In short, Fontana’s style of slashes to the canvas, “introduced a dimension beyond the painting itself.”

Update: Some of the images referred to in this blog post have been removed following the close of Modern Masters at the Denver Art Museum. Please visit the Albright-Knox Art Gallery Collection search page to find the related artworks. This appeared on this post while the exhibition was open:

American artist Helen Frankenthaler recalled her years in the New York art scene of the 1940s and 50s: “I was influenced by both Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning and eventually felt there were more possibilitie

Holly Westwood is the interpretation of exhibits Intern in the education department at the Denver Art Museum. Holly has been at the DAM since 2013 and her favorite exhibition that has been on view here was Yves Saint Laurent: The Retrospective. After working on Modern Masters: 20th Century Icons from the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Clyfford Still has become her new favorite artist.